Ajami

Nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film, AJAMI looks at the Middle East powder keg from both sides, weaving a complex story of drug dealing, romance, and economic peril.

Using a nonprofessional cast, the film follows a young Israeli (Shahir Kabaha) fighting a criminal vendetta against his family, a Palestinian refugee (Eran Naim) obsessed with finding his missing brother, and an affluent Palestinian (Scandar Copti) dreaming of a future with his Jewish girlfriend. As a shockingly unjust murder sets off a cycle of fear amongst the characters, the violence of life in Israel embeds itself in every interaction, even for those on the same side. While its themes of revenge, mutual resentment and grim fatalism offer little hope for ready solutions, the movie testifies to the power of creative collaboration in finding common ground.